Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's Podcast

This podcast is excerpted from Unity Temple Unitarian Universalist Congregation's live stream of a worship service on March 15, 2020. As we practice social distancing, how do we respond as a community? Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor and Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage share responses to this anxious time as the spread of COVID-19 prevents us from worshipping in person. The theme fo...

Reflections delivered in this Chalice Ceremony for 4th graders delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on March 8, 2020. Following an address to the participants by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor, Rev. Gage offers further thoughts on mountains, roller coasters, and how to navigate life. The theme for March is what it means to be a people of wisdom. To read about our theme-base...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Brian Sauder on March 1, 2020. Rev. Sauder explores how we, as "salt of the earth," can seek to solve our climate crisis from a perspective of justice.  Rev. Brian Sauder serves Faith in Place as the President & Executive Director ( www.faithinplace.org ). He was the Policy Director and organizer of the Springfield office until Rev. Clare Butterfield resigned in 2015. The...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey on February 23, 2020. Rev. Dr. Lightsey dynamically reflects on what the story of Esther has to teach us about "such a time as this." The Rev. Dr. Pamela Lightsey serves at Meadville Lombard Theological School, that prepares Unitarian Universalist ministers, as the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs and Associate Professor of Constructive T...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on February 16, 2020 Rev. Taylor reflects on his second visit to refugees in Matamoros, taking heart amidst disappointment. The theme for February is what it means to be a people of resilience. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith.

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on February 9, 2020. A sermon on small and big worries, resilience, and our propensity to take "flying leaps at nonsensical unreasonable ideas like marriage and marathons and democracy and divinity." (Thanks, Brian Doyle.) The theme for February is what it means to be a people of resilience. To read about our theme-based ministry, p...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on February 2, 2020. Many of life's challenges push us beyond what we had previously thought ourselves capable. This podcast includes readings by Howard Thurman and Maya Angelou that precede Rev. Taylor's sermon that explores the resilience of individuals and communities.  The theme for February is what it means to be a people of resilience. To...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on January 26, 2020. Faith Testimonial by Alex Kapitan, co-founder of the Transforming Hearts Collective which supports spaces for LGBTQ people to access resilience, healing and spirituality, and supports congregations in the work of radical inclusion and culture shift. Alex shares per story of growing up Unitarian Universalist and what ze is lo...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on January 19, 2020. Reflecting on Dr. King's vision of the Beloved Community, Rev. Taylor explores the the work of Bryan Stevenson (Just Mercy), the ramifications of facing up to our nation's history of racism and terrorism towards people of color, and Stevenson's prescription to bring forth a society that provides justice, equity, and compassi...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Karen Mooney on January 12, 2020. Hear how building brave spaces differs from creating safe spaces and why that is the work we need to do to be truly welcoming to all. Rev. Mooney works with the Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministries of Illinois as they seek to bring UU faith and worship to incarcerated people. She is honored to offer circles of care for those living in...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Allison Farnum on January 5, 2020. Rev. Farnum examines personal integrity through the lens of discernment as a way to start the new year. Rev. Allison Farnum is a Unitarian Universalist minister, returned to the Chicago area from eleven years serving her first call at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers, Florida. She is currently serving as Adjunct Consultant...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Allison Farnum on December 29, 2019. Rev. Farnum is a Unitarian Universalist minister, returned to the Chicago area from eleven years serving her first call at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Fort Myers, Florida. She is currently serving as Adjunct Consultant for our UUA's MidAmerica Region as she discerns how best she may next fulfill her call to serve the Spirit of...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor at the 7:00 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service on December 24, 2019. Rev. Taylor reflects on the promises of the Season. The theme for December is what it means to be a people of awe. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith.

This podcast from December 22, 2019 begins with a story for all ages read by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage. The book is My Penguin Osbert by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel .  She follows the story with her sermon about how sometimes things don't turn out the way we plan. The theme for December is what it means to be a people of awe. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on December 15, 2019. Reflecting on the teachings and life of Rabbi Abraham Heschel, Rev. Taylor considers our culture's need to engage in more awe-robics. The theme for December is what it means to be a people of awe. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith.

On Sunday, December 8, 2019 the Unity Temple Choir, soloists and the Bach Baroque Chamber Orchestra presented the Bach Magnificat in D major. This, one of J.S Bach's most performed works, features five soloists and a five part chorus, beginning and ending with exciting and challenging choral movements. Bach, a master in setting Biblical texts, has crafted a work that shows wonderful attention to t...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on December 1, 2019. Reflecting on the Advent story, Rev. Taylor explores Mary's courage and what sustains her. Are there two angels in the story? Will we step forth like Mary and will we provide the blessing of sanctuary to others? The theme for December is what it means to be a people of awe. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visi...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Fev. Emily Gage on November 24, 2019. In her reflection on paying attention, Emily includes the Museum of Science and Industry, William Carlos Williams, stories about mice and Thanksgiving.  The theme for November is what it means to be a people of attention. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.unitytemple.org/faith.

Sermon delivered on November 17, 2019 by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor. Often evil is hard to pin down but the impacts of evil are very clear. As evil is human-created hell for other people through either personal action or the structures of society, it matters that we pay attention or else our lack of attention and silence shall allow evil to flourish. The theme for November is what it means t...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on November 10, 2019. During low tide, so much becomes revealed that is typically hidden. Rev. Taylor reflects on the low tide of the soul—challenging times in our lives that especially call for our attention. What does this mean for us as individuals and a wider community? The theme for November is what it means to be a people of attention. To...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on November 3, 2019. What is calling for your attention? Rev. Taylor reflects on how easy it is for our technology to focus our attention to the point that we are no longer attending to what is truly important. The theme for November is what it means to be a people of attention. To read about our theme-based ministry, please visit  http://www.un...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on October 27, 2019. Who are your cloud of witnesses? Have you ever thought about how you are among the cloud of witnesses for others? Rev. Taylor reflects on the wisdom of remembering—remembering those who have gone before us and those who are in need of support. The theme for October is what it means to be a people of belonging. To read about...

Sermon delivered by Rev. Scott Aaseng on October 20, 2019. Crises like the ones we're facing call for radical action. Not necessarily more extreme action, but radical in the sense of addressing the roots of these crises. One of the most radical actions we can take is to talk – and listen – to our neighbors. Rev. Scott Aaseng is the Executive Director of the UU Advocacy Network of IL (UUANI). UUANI...

Sermon delivered by Minister of Faith Development Rev. Emily Gage on October 13, 2019. I hope that each of you can tell a story that helps to answer the question, "Whose are we?" That, at a time when you were in trouble, or grieving, or hurt, you looked around you, and you knew that you were not alone. That you were held by people who loved you for all of who you are. The theme for October is what...

Sermon delivered by Senior Minister Rev. Alan Taylor on October 6, 2019. Reflecting on the life work of Jean Vanier, the founder of L'Arche communities, and Brene Brown's distinction between "fitting in" and "belonging," Rev. Taylor finds the Jewish High Holy Days an apt time to explore the relationship between community and forgiveness. The theme for October is what it means to be a people of bel...